Looking Back: Titusville History
TITUSVILLE HAS A RICH HISTORY, from our first native inhabitants to early pioneers, through amazing growth and community development, to the space age with Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Space Shuttle programs to today’s robust new space age with more launches on the manifest that most of us ever dreamed. Titusville is a community of proud and accomplished citizens with a love of the charm such a magnificent historical place on the planet enjoys.
This wonderful place is the result of 100s of key and curious happenings alongside acts of humanity and personal leadership.
On this page, you will find facts and stories from our last 100 years.
Your Chamber has been an important part of that story.
Stay tuned here for more history and fun throughout this celebratory year.
DYK?
Legend is that Titusville got its name when Colonel Henry T. Titus won the honor in a domino game against Capt. Clark Rice to determine which player got to name the town. If Col, Titus had not won that historic game (1873), Titusville might just be called Riceville.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER HISTORIC FACTS & LOCAL HISTORIC PLACES.
At 325 South Washington Ave, you can see historic architecture, a building that has held many stories…and businesses…in Titusville.
In 1926, the first floor was occupied by Florida Power & Light Company for the sale of electrical supplies. The second floor was occupied by the Veron Hotel and Café. In the 1950s it was the location of Sease Electric Company which installed the vintage Hotpoint sign still prominent today.
Next door, at 327 South Washington Ave, was The Pritchard Building. Here Capt. James Pritchard operated James Pritchard & Son Hardware, adding the curvy Spanish Revival style parapet in 1927. This is a short walk down the street from his still famous residence. The Historic Pritchard House is open for tours by appointment (call 321-607-02030.
In 1927, Titusville’s first aviation center opened for use as an emergency landing field for mail services. No airports existed on the east coast between Jacksonville and Miami at the time, so this was a major event. Significantly, it was also used for auxiliary pilot training During WWII. This is the location of the present-day Arthur Dunn Airpark now used for skydiving and private aviation.
These stories and historical facts are from the City of Titusville’s Historic Preservation Board 2021, and can be further explored on the City’s website.
Ready to explore on foot? Find walking tours and more on locations of historical importance to Titusville’s unique history here.
100 Years in 2023
KEEP WATCHING
(Announcements will happen here)